X-ray machine



1931- G. BUSH ET AL 1,831,341

X-RAY MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1927 10 that has ample capacity to radiograph or. As illustrated iniFigurelof the drawings,

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC GEORGE -L. BUSH AND E. BUSH, or seivrnanorsco, CALIFORNIA, AssIGnons T BUSH ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- I TION 0F OALIFORNIA' X-RAY MACHINE Application filed. November 21, 1927. Serial No..234,670.-

This invention relates to X-ray machines vatio-n with parts brokenaway of the tube and particularly to portable X-ray machines. arm, 1

One. feature of the invention is to provide Figure 7 is a plan view with partsbroken a machine of the above character that is away of the tube arm shown in Figure 6,

pable of performing the work of a bedside Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional viewwith X-ra-y machine in addition to that of a port-a: parts broken away taken along line 8 8 of ble machine. Figure 3, and

Another feature of the invention lies inthe Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional-view tak-V provision of amachine of theabove character en along line 99 of Figure 3. V

fiuorosco-pe anypart of the human body. the X-ray machine 'l-comprises a basetZ sup A third feature of the invention is to proporting avtransformer 3'and two standards 4- vide a machine of the above character'which and 5. The X-ray tube 6 is supported from may be moved from room to room or from the standard .4, whereas the controller 7 is floor to floor with the exertion of a. minimum mountedupon standard 5.

of effort, 7 a l The base 2 (see also Figures 2 and 4) has A fourth feature of the invention resides legs 8 that are antifrictionally supported in the provision, of a machine of the above upon easy running casters 10. A'rectangular character that comprises a plurality of sepaperturell isprovided in the base 2. s Lugs arable parts and which may be quickly and 12 are formed on the side walls of aperture easily dismantled and conveniently carried 11 and extend-inwardly from thefo-ur corners from place to place. of this aperture for the purpose of support- Still another feature of the invention is to ing transformer 3 within thisaperture. A provide a machine of the abovecharacter that socket member 13 is positioned near one end 25 is of simple, light and strong construction of-the base2and is arranged to hold standard and easily operated. 4 in a vertical position. Thisstandard and Other features and advantages will become standard .5 are preferably: of tubular con-. apparent from the specification, taken in struction. Socket member 13 has a tubular connection, with the accompanying drawings lower portion 14 that extends downwardly- ;30 wherein one embodiment of the invention is through a circular aperture provided in the illustrated. a base 2. An inwardly-extending annular In the drawings i flange 15 is formed on the lower end of por Figurel is a perspective view of the X-ray tion 14 for the purpose of supporting the machine of this invention, 7 standard 4 within the socket member 13'.

machine, v secured tothe base;2 as by screws, The upper Figure is an enlarged viewin side elevaportion of the socket member 13 is slottedtion with parts broken away of the standard atl6 and lugs 17 are formed on the opposite supporting the X-ray tube, 2 sides of this slot. Lugs .17 are arranged to,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the base of the This socket member has a flange 1-9 that is 1 in Figure 4 is a side view of the base of the be drawn, together by'means ofa screw and v machine, a wing-nut l8- for thepurpose offcausing Figure 5 is an enlarged side view' with f the socket member13 to grip the standard 4:, parts broken awayof the standard support thereby-retaining this standard. withinthe the COJli'IOllGF. v ocket member;

liigure 6 is an enlargedview in side ele- ;A screw 20 is threaded into an aperture provided in the standard 4 (see Figure 3) and engages a vertically extending slot 21 in the socket member 13. With the standard 4 supported within the socket member 13, the screw 20 engages the sides of the slot 21. This prevents the turning of the standard 4 with respect to the socket member.

From the socket member 13, the standard 4 extends upwardly through circular apertures provided in a bracket 22 (Figures 3, 8 and 9). Bracket 22 is provided with antifrictionally mounted rollers 23 that ride upon the standard 4 and enable this bracket to be moved to any desired position upon the standard with a minimum 8 of eifort. These rollers are spaced one hundred and twenty degrees apart at the upper and lower ends of bracket 22, thereby supporting this bracket at three points on both ends.

A friction clamp 24 has a trunnion 25 that extends through an aperture provided in the lower portion of bracket Bracket 22 acts as a fulcrum for trunnion 25. Clamp 24 surrounds the standard .4 and is urged into gripping relation with this standard by a compression spring 26. A thumb lever 27 is formed upon friction clamp 24. By pressing the thumb lever 27 downwardly toward a finger rest 28, the spring 26 is compressed, thereby releasing the clamp 24 from gripping engagement with the standard 4.

Bracket 22 is arranged to be locked in any desired position upon standard 4 by means of a lock 30. Lock 30 has a locking lever 32 that is pivotallyrmoun ted uponthe upper portion of bracket 22. Locking lever 32 has an eccentric portion 31that cooperates with a plunger 33. Plunger33 is secured to one end of a compression spring 34. The other end of spring 34 is secured to a locking sector 35. Looking sector35 carries leather washers'36 that are positioned adjacent the stand ard 4. With the locking lever 32 in its lower position, shown in Figures 1. 3 and 9, its eccentric portion 31 compresses the spring 34 and causes the Washers 36 to grip the standard 4, thereby locking the bracket 22 in position on the standard 4. By swinging locking lever 32 upwardly its eccentric portion 3l moves away from the spring 34 and causes the washers 36 to disengage the standard 4 so as to'release the bracket 22. Should the lock 30 be accidently released, the friction clamp 24 will support the bracket 22and prevent its falling.

A circular aperture 29 is provided in the bracket 22 and is. adapted'to receive a spreader 3.7. A thumb screw 38 is threaded through the wall of aperture 29 and is arranged to engage the spreader 37 so as to retain this spreader in any desired position. Then the spreader 37 is not in use it may be retained by a clip 49-secured to the underside of the base 2. V

A trunnion 39 is formed on the central portion of bracket 22. An annular groove 46 is provided in the trunnion 39 for a purpose that will be explained later. Trunnion 39 is arranged to support a tube arm 40 (see also Figures 6 and 7). Tube arm 40 is preferably of hollow cylindrical construction and comprises a body portion 41 and a telescoping portion 42. A cylindrical plug 43 is secured within the body portion 41 of tube arm 40 and has a longitudinal aperture 44 to receive the trunnion 39. Tube arm 40 is retained on the trunnion 39 by a headed pin 45 that is spring pressed into the annular groove 46. A. hand screw 47 has its shank threaded through an aperture in the tube arm 40 and is arranged to engage thev trunnion 39 so as to lock the tube arm in position on this trunnion. By releasing the hand screw 47 and pulling the headed pin 45 outwardly so as to clear the groove 46, the tube arm may be removed from the bracket'22.

A. sleeve 48 issecured to the bodyportion 41 of the tube arm and has a reduced end that surrounds the telescoping portion 42. Telescoping portion '42 may be moved 1on gitu'dinally with respect to the sleeve'48, thereby enabling. the X-ray tube 6 to be positioned at varying distances from the standard 4. A key 50 and a-bushing 51 are secured to the-telescoping portion 42 and cooperate with the body portion 41 to guide the telescoping portion during its longitudinal movement. The telescoping portion 42 is limited in its outward movement by a bushing 51 striking a stationary sleeve The sleeve 48 and the body portion 41 are slotted at 53 and lugs 54 are formed on the sleeve 48 at the opposite sides of this slot. Lugs 54 are arranged to be drawn together by means of a hand screw 55 for the purpose of causing the sleeve 48 to grip the telescoping portion 42, thereby retaining this portion of the tube arm in any position desired. Telescoping portion 42 has three spaced annular scarifications at 59 to enable the mak ing of stereoscopic exposures. The outer scarifications are spaced an amount equal to the spacing of the normal human eyes.

A disk 56 is fixed to the end of the telescoping portion 42 and coacts with a similar disk 57 forming a part ofa universal coupling member. A hand screw 58 has its shank extending through aligned central apertures provided in the disks 56 and 57.

Hand screw 58 may be loosened to permit relative angular movement between these disks or it may be tightened to lock them fixedly together. Disk 57 is forned integral. witha disk 630 that is positioned at right angles to dis I 57. A tube base 63 is attached to the disk 60 by a friction clamp (31. Clamp 61 comprises a screw 62 carrying a spring washer (not shown) that bears against the tube base (53. Screw-62 extends through an aperture in the "tube, base. 63 and is threaded into disk 60. Friction clamp 61 permits'the tube base 63 to beturned'angularly with respect to the disk 60. i j

Segmental clamps 64, 65 and- 66' having fibre sleeves 67 arearranged to secure the shieldof the X-ray tube 6 tothe tube base 63. Clamp 64 is fixed to the tube base 63,

whereas clamps 65 and 66 may be adjusted radially with respect to'the central axis of this base by means of screws 69. Tube base 63 has-a filter 68 preferably of aluminum.

The anode conductor 70 (Figure 1) and the cathode conductors 71 and 72 of the X- ray tube 6 pass under the spreader 37 to reels 73, 7 4 and 75 respectively, carriedby spreader 76. Spreader 76is mounted upon standard at and has a shank (not shown) extending into a socket 77 (see Figure 3) provided in a plug 78 that is positioned in the upper end of this standard. Plug 78 is formed so as to permit the spreader 76 to be mounted in only one position on the standard l. The spreader 76 may be removed from thestandard a by raising the spreader so that its shank disengages socket 77;

A cable 80, having a single conductor, connects the reel 73 to one high tension terminal of the transformer 3-for the purpose of transmitting current to the anode of, the X-ray tube 6. A cable 81, having two insulated conductors, connects the reels 7 l and 75 to the other high tension terminal of the transformer 3. The conductors of cable 81 transmit the heating current for the cathode of the X-raytube 6. The insulation of cables 80 and-81 is preferably ofpure Para rubber, and is of sufi'icient din'iensionzto permit the handling of these cables while the machine is in operation. The upper conductor terminals of cables 80 and 81 hook over shanks formed on the several reels 7 3, 7 l, and 75 while the lower conductor terminals of these cables plug into sockets provided in the transformer 3, thereby facilitating the rapid connection or disconnection of these con-v standard 5 within the socket member 82;

Standard is retained withinsocket memb ?1 "82 by tightening the -wing-nut.8,6. A hook8'7 is securedto the standard 5 for the purpose of supporting thefoot control switch 88 when the'X-ray machine is not in use.

A longitudinalslot 90 is provided inthc upper end of standard5; 1A socket member A ber 91 to gripthe standard 5, therebyretains ingthe controller 7 upon this standard.

Legs 93 formed uponthe controller7, enable thiscontroller to stand upon a horizontal surface when it is not mounted upon the standard 5. i Y

The metal casing of the controller] completely encloses the controlling apparatus including. an auto transformer for regulating the voltage output of the transformer 3."."A cable 99,electricallyrcouples the controller 7 totransformer. 3. =It. is possible, by using A a transformer 3 weighing but sixty pounds,

touobtain any milliamperage from zero to thirty at a pressure equivalent to a spark gap varying from three to fiveinches. All-meters,--switchesand controls areconveniently mounted onthetop' panel94 of the controller 7 A lever 95 enables therapid selecting of an X-ray tubevoltageof a value correspond ing toeither a three inch or a five inch spark gap. A similar lever may be used to select an X-ray tube-current of either five or thirty milliamperes The five inilliamperecurrent is used in fluoroscopic iwork whereas the thirty milliampere current is used in radiography. The machine is designed so. that its plug 98 may be'coupled directl-yto a suitable source of power.- As the controlling apparatus. and circuits form no partof the present invention thevwould appearto require no further descriptionr Handles 96 and 97; aregproyided on the con troller 7 and transformer-,3, respectively, to'

enable the ready carrying of these parts from place to place. i Y

In operation, the X-ray tube 6 may be placed at any height desired by merely moving bracket 22 along the standard 4:. Thus the X-ray tube may be lowered to the floor and TI placed under a bed or table or raised to chest height- The tube arm 40-may be swung about the standard 4 to any angle desired, and when the machine is not in use, this arm may be positioned over the controller 7 making a very compact arrangement. The telescoping feature of the tube arm permits the X ray tube to be placed at varying distances under abed or table as forsetting fractures. -Instereo scopic work the telescoping portion of'the tube arm 1s ad u'sted so that exposures are taken with the outer 'scarifications 59 inalignment with the end of sleeve 48. I Theuniversal coupling-member connecting the'tube arm 40 to the tube base- 63 enables the X-ray' tube to be readily be desired.

The bracket 22:and'the tube arm 40 may be counterbalanced if desired, by a counterweight positionedwithin thestandard 4-. If such a counterweight'isemployed, the friction clamp 24 may be omitted.

Inasmuch as the spreaderB'Z is carried by the bracket 22, the conductors '70, 7-1, and 72 are always properly spaced regardless of the adjusted to any. angle .thatmay positions the X-ray tube may take along the rent stabilizer, as of the electro-magnetic type, may be mounted under the base 2 for the purpose of maintaining a constant'voltage supply for the X-ray tube, thereby obtaining a uniform output from this tube. Thelow center of gravity of the transformer 3enables the base 2 "of the machine to be made of extremely light material such as aluminum. The casters 10 enable the moving of the machine from room to room with the application of but a fingers pressure. It isto be noted that the machine is of extremely substantial construction throughout. It may be taken apart by merely loosening four screws 18, 86, 92 and 47 and as readily put together again. Theseveral parts of the machine are especially constructedso that they maybe carried from place toplace without the use of a carrying case. Such a case, however, may be used if-desired. In theevent that a carrying case is employed, the standard 4 is divided midway of its length, and the two halves so formed are constructed so that they may be readily connected together or disconnected. i

It willbe noted that the various parts of the machine are constructed so that it is impossible to assemble them incorrectly. For example, standard 4 can only fit into socket 13 and standard 5 into socket 82..

As many vchanges could bemade in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could: be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that-all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

' 'What is claimed is: 1 V

'1. AnJX-ray machine comprising a base, an'X-ray tube, astandard removably attached to saidlbase, abracket antifrictionally mounted on said standard, a friction clamp current to the X-ray tube, and a controller for regulating the current supplied by said transformer. A

2. An X-ray machine comprising a base, an X-ray tube, a standard removably attached to said base, abracket antifrictionally mounted on said standard, a friction clamp adapted to hold said bracket in a plurality of positions on said standard, means for locking said bracket in any one of said plurality of positions, a tube arm removably attached to'said bracket, said tube arm having a'telescoping portion, means having a universal connection with the telescoping portion of said tube arm and supporting said X-ray tube, a transformer removably positioned within an aperture in said base, and a controller removably mounted upon said base, said controller and transformer being electrically interconnected with each other and electrically connected with the X-ray tube.

V 8. An X-ray machine comprising a base, an X-ray tube, a transformer mounted on said base, a standard mounted on said base adjacent one wall of said transformer, and supporting said X-ray tube, a second standard mounted on said base adjacent an opposite'wall of said transformer, said second standard terminating below the top of said first standard, a controller mounted on top of said second standardwithin convenient reach of the'machine operator, said controller and said transformer being electrically interconnected for the purpose of controlling the energization of said X-ray tube, conductor supporting means carried by said first standard, and electrical conductors connected with said conductor supporting means and interconnecting said transformer with said X-ray tube.

4. An X-ray machine comprising a base, an X-ray tube, a transformer mounted on said base, a standard mounted on said base adj acent one wall of said transformer, a bracket mounted on said standard and supporting said X-ray tube, said bracket being adjustable up and down said standard at will, a second standard mounted on said base adjacent an opposite wall of said transformer, said second standard terminating below the top of said first standard,a controller mounted on top of said second standard within ion convenient reach of the machine operator, said controller and said-transformer being electrically interconnected for the purpose of controlling the energization of said X-ray tube, a spreader mounted on top of said first standard, a second spreader carried by said bracket, and leads supported from said Spreaders and interconnecting said transformer with said X-ray tube.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

GEORGE L. BUSH. ALBERT E. BUSH. 

